Great! Fantastic! That’s amazing! Imagine all the animals saved! Those were the responses I’ve heard as I spread the word that LA banned the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in retail outlets today (ref: Los Angeles Times).

And, naturally, I agree.

You don’t have to wait for election day to make progress, and that’s what they did in LA. Now, only animals for adoption can be provided through retail outlets. This is a move to start solving the pet homelessness problem at the source!

LA is a huge market for pets stores who frequently sell dogs that are trending as popular, such as Chihuahuas after the release of Legally Blonde. There are so many animals homeless in LA that rescue groups all over the country actually export dogs out of LA to find them homes elsewhere.

And the relief that shelter workers will get is just one more reason that banning the retail sale of animals is so important. Imagine each day you are faced with hundreds and even thousands of homeless animals, many who will be euthanized. This is a quote from one LA newspaper article earlier this month:

“In the 2011-12 fiscal year, city animal shelters took in more than 57,000 animals — 35,405 dogs and 21,883 cats — and euthanized 25 percent of the dogs and 57 percent of cats.” — ref: Daily News LA

Congratulations to Councilman Paul Koretz, Los Angeles Department of Animal Services and all the animal advocates and organizations who pressed for this ban.

It’s amazing what can happen when we let our elected leaders know exactly what our communities need (especially when it doesn’t cost the city to make these changes). With courage and tenacity, Powelson and her fellow advocates are speaking up for what many people believe is a good step to help end the euthanasia of 3-4 million cats and dogs that end up in North American animal shelters every year (ref: HSUS, American Humane Association).

Whenever I have spoken to representatives or leaders of the cities where we live and suggest that we ban the sale of animals, the most common response I’ve gotten is “Well, I’ve never thought about it” or “No one has ever suggested it.”

So thank you Kathy for not only suggesting it, but advocating for significant change to help animals.

An article in a Malaysian independent paper carried this letter from a reader. It’s an articulate explanation of backyard breeders, chained dogs and what action should be taken to help Malaysian dogs and protect people. Please take a moment to see the article here.

Also, since it’s always nice to connect with our overseas friends, check out this great website on not-for-profit agencies in Malaysia called Hati.org.my. Here is their listing of animal welfare groups in Malaysia.

A second city in Canada has banned the retail sale of dogs (and cats too!) effectively ending retail pet sales of puppies and kittens in the city limits. But not just any city, … Canada’s largest city, Toronto, home to more than 2.5 million people.

In a move that helps solidify the future of pets stores and the kind of business they can provide in the region, there is no excuse any longer for cities in Canada, the US and across the world to not make this practical and ethical change in their city bylaws.

Media coverage links of this major municipal decision is provided by Helen Savkovic. (Thanks Helen! )

“I think we’re the second major municipality in Canada to do this, so that from coast to coast, we’re going to protect dogs across this country,” said a jubilant Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, who had championed the partial ban.

“For all intents and purposes we’ve shut the taps to the puppy mills at retail locations in Toronto. We won’t eliminate them because people will still sell at Kajiji and there is other ways to sell puppy mill dogs, so those evil people will continue but there’s a lot less demand for their product,” said Mr. De Baeremaeker. “Eventually, hopefully, there won’t be any puppy mills at all.”

My favorite quote?

“It really slams the door closed on people who mass produce animals for profit,” said Mr. De Baeremaeker, adding it should help to stop sales of such animals at flea markets as well. ~ Globe & Mail

In an open and shut case, the Glendale City Council in California passed a ban the sale of dogs and cats in retail outlets, thereby pinching off the flow of money to puppy and kitten mills and ending impulse retail animals sales that so frequency leads to pet surrender and pet abandonment. We owe a whole bunch of thanks to the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), who also ushered in the West Hollywood ban and has helped many other cities do the same.

Update! I just learned that a small group of activists got the puppy sale ban ball rolling in Glendale. Prior to this vote, Christy Schilling, resident and activist, approached the owner of Pet Rush, a pet store selling dogs in Glendale, and encouraged them to stop selling puppy mill dogs. Pet Rush owner Rene Karapedian choose to stop selling dogs in favor of helping rescued animals find homes. Both Schilling and Karapedian indicated their support for the ban for council. (Ref: Examiner, and a special thanks to Andrea (reader) for letting me know about the team effort (see comments).)

“It’s time Suffolk County joins a national trend and bans these businesses that support the puppy mill industry.”

I’m sure glad to hear this called a ‘national trend’. Suffolk County legislator Jon Cooper has proposed a law to ban the retail sale of dog in pet stores. See article here. The proposed law will take some time for consideration, and the public is asked to participate. Here is a web comment from that same article inviting input. Three cheers for Suffolk Co. and Jon Cooper!

Comment from Jon Cooper (reprinted):

Thank you for posting this story about yesterday’s public hearing on my “puppy mill” bill. If any of your readers would like to testify in support of this bill at the next public hearing, they can call my district office for full details at (631) 854-4500. They can also email me at jon.cooper@suffolkcountyny.gov. The hearing will take place at the next General Meeting of the County Legislature in Hauppauge and is scheduled for 6:30 PM on Tuesday, August 2nd.